Steam boiler



P atented Oct. 1l, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENToFr-ICE J. CURRAN AND WILLIAM MCCLELLAN, F NEW YORKyN'. Y., ASSIGjNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,TO STEAM POWER, INC., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE i STEAM BorLER Application led October 5, 1927, Serial ,No.- 224,040. Renewed .Tune 14, 1932.

The present invention relates to steam boilers of the semi-flash type and more particularly to a steam boiler construction in which steam may be generated and super- 5 heated substantially immediately Ain accordance with the power demand, whereby the steam temperature remains usubstantially uniform during operation of the boiler. The invention is particularly applicable to steam 1o generation as motive power for automobiles, although it may be used for numerous other purposes as will be apparent yto those skilled in the art.

With the forms of flash and semi-liash boilers heretofore employed in connection with automobiles, a considerable amount of time is generally consumed in starting before the engine develops full power, particularly after the vehicle has remained stationary for some time, andJ the time which elapses before the pressure drop in the steam line becomes sufficient to cause automatic operation of the main burner is considerable; consequently the time required for building up normal operating pressures is excessive, resulting in a comparatively slow pick-up or low'acceleration when starting.

While the ordinary Steamers or steam-operated automobiles have the disadvantages 3o above pointed out, the form of boiler which `we have devised overcomes lthe above disadvantages, when applied to automobile propulsion, and permits operation of automobiles equipped therewith with greater facility and with a faster pick-up or acceleration than that 0f steamautomobiles heretofore employed.

In the apparatus which we have devised, an auxiliary superheater is employed together withseparate heating means therefor, whereby the necessary heat may be im'- parted to the steam,.in starting, to produce superheated steam and to develop the requisite power to attain rapid acceleration in starting, andI to supply heat to the 7steam during normal operation, thereby reducing the amount of heat which is to be supplied b'y the main burner. By producing superheated'steam at the time the engine is startedthe power` is developed at the time when it is most required, which is before the main burner has been put automatically into operation by the dropinsteam pressure in the system, and furthermore, by the use of superheated steam the amount of condensation which takes place inthe cylinders ofthe engine when starting is also 'greatly reduced.

A "substantially constant temperature of the y steam may thus be obtained, during the operation of the boiler, and the loss of power in starting due to the temperature drop in the ysteam which ordinarily occurs during the time that elapses before constant operating `conditions are obtained,'is avoided. Furload substantially immediately when required.

Another object of the invention is to provvide a steam boiler which is particularly adapted for automobiles or other vehicles and in which the steam vaporizing coils and superheater coil or coils may be heated independently of a separate auxiliary superheating coil so as to develop full load capacity or power of the engine and whereby the separate auxiliary superheating coil may serve to vsupply the required heat to the steam when the engine is first put into operation or when starting the automobile. After the boiler is operating normally,-the main burner .may be automatically turned on and 0E in accordance with power requirements.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for keeping'the auxiliary superheater in the boiler construction at a substantially constant temperature so as to prevent l the uslual temperature drop in the steam'line such as ordinarily takes place when starting, whereby the usual pressure drop with the consequent loss of power is obviated.

Another object of the invention is to provide 'a steam boiler having greater economy a most compact construction occupying a f steam,` passes throu a grate 28 froma burner, as will be hereinof larger diameter being nearer the drum'34.

` the upper pipe22 of the water drum area of operation than that of boilers heretofore vfines 36 and downwardly thnough the top of employed, and in which space in the boiler the drum 34, the ends of the pipes being arrangement is economized so as to obtain so disposed as to discharge the contents tangentially into `the steam drum, prefmininium of space. .erably at a downwardangle of about 20 With these and other objects in View,'the with the horizontal whereby the suspended invention comprises the yvarious features or entrained particles of Water will be hereinafter describedP and defined in the, thrown to the sides of the drum by centrif- 'clauns rI he various features of the invenugal force and the disengaged steam will tion are illustrated 1n the accompanying pass to the center of the drum from which 75- drawin s, showing theinvention in its preii; -iS Withdrawn thro gh thi, perforated feled .01111, 111 Wh1eh o pipe 42. After enteringt e pipe 42, the steam F1g 1 153e V1eW 111 6113173131011 Partly 111 Sec' passes to a superheating coil 44 directly bet1011 0f the 1111P1`0Yed ferm 0f beller; f low the steam drum 34 and from thence Fig. 2 is a detailsectionalyiewof the lower through a pipe 46, which passes out through- P01`t1011' 0f elle b011e1" Sh0W111- the auXlllaly the casng 10 to a control valve 48 which may .superheater and auxiliary burner;I be operated by suitable means such as a 1S a 1101`1Z011t11 SeetlOIlal VleW taken handle 50. From the control valvey the steam OIL 12 e h lle 3 3 0f F1g--1 L passes throughapipe 52 toamain superheater llg 4 1 5 a Seelilena-l'ylew taken 011 the 1111e coil 54 which, as above stated, is heated by, 4 4, 0f lg- 133111 means of combustion gases passing through the grate 28. The superheater coil 54 is con-1 nected to a pipe 56 which preferably passes outside of the housing 10 and is connected to Referrmg 111 detall t0 the dl'aWlng?, 0111 an auxiliary superheater coil 60 positioned 1111P1` 0Ved b 01 1e1' e0111l1 1`15e s 311 Outer 151113 0 1' within a chamber' 106 at the bottom ofthe houslns lQ'WlthmwhlCh isa Preheatmg C011 tener, the eeii 6o being independently heeted 12 extendmg downwardly 111 P1`0X11111ty te. by means of a burner 62. In the portion of vthe inner surface of the llouslng by 111ea11s the pipe`56 outside of the boiler is a valve 58 0f Wh1eh Water, Wh1eh 1S fed t0 the .e911 by means of which the passage of steam from through a Plpe i4 havlng a Val/Ye 16 thehems the superheat'er coil 54 to the auiliary super- 111515" be preheated @heated t0 any desu'ed heater coil 60 may be'cntrolled. The chamdeglee, the Wete be111g` Preferably heated ber 106 in which the auxiliary superlieater t0 S11bSte11t1a11y lts 00111113 110ml* From, the coil is located is preferably lined with heat e011 1271e Wetea 01 'Water 31121 cohbmed insulating material' or may be formed by gh a e01111eel5111g P1Pe 18 packino' suitable insulating material betweenv te *1J-Water drum 20' e the wall l0 and the burner walls o casing The Water drumn'eferably eomPIlseS two -80 leaving the desired space or chamber 106 annular ElPeS 22 ana 24 eenheeted by one orfor the coil. From the auxiliary superheater i 'n.lore. tu es .2o through Whleh eohhhhhtee'. coil 6 0 the vsteam'pas'ses through a pipe 64 tion 1s established between the annular pipes. to the engine which is to be Operated The feed water from the plehea13er eeh 12 is The gases of combustion from the burner preferably Coheed-ed to the lower plpe 24 of 62 pass from the chamber 106 into thefliue 70, the Water drum 1h Whleh 1t becomes fhrether which tommunicates with the flue 40, through heeled. t.'he Wateh drum helhg. heated by which gases from thetop or dome of the boiler means of combustion gases passing through are Withdrawm the- -Combined gases' passing Athrough a pipe or conduit 72 to a chimney or other suitable exhaust. Connected to the steam drum 34 are a series of pipes or downcomers 66 through which the water which is discharged from or separated from thewsteam in the steam drum 34 passes to the water drum 20 preferably tothe lower annular pipe 24 thereof. In the end of the pipe 66 is a check valve 68 adapted to permit passage of water downwardly through the7 pipe 66 into the water drum but serves to prevent passage of water or steam in the o posite directions for controlling the operation of the mainy burner in accordance with steam pressure.

ido

after described. .Connected preferably to series of pipes 30, each of which is connected l\ to a steam generating coil similar to coil 32, through which water or water and steam passes from the water drum to a steam drum 34. The coils 32 are heated by combustion gases passing through the grate 28 and are 120 preferably 'spiralin form, the `convolutions The-steam drum 34 at the upper part of o the boiler CQmpI'lSeS a Steam Chamber having domlcomers are p re erably located which combustion gases pass to the upper of the furnace or boiler or may be located in portion or domeJ of the furnace. In Order t0 verticall indentations in the coil 12 so as to be ,attain flexibility in construction, the indi-l suitably protected from the hottest combusvidual pipes 30 having the coils 32 therein, are tion gases. f positioned so. as to pass upwardly through the In order to independently regulate the iio e phere or may be lead to a chimney 01:otherpreheater coil 1 2 to a The burner 62 may be of any suitable form, i

but preferably comprises a cylindrical casing in which are a number of orifices or burner nozzles 82, through which the fuelmixture passes, the mixture being burned in the chamber 106 in which the flames" andv hot: gasesof combustion come into conta with the auxiliary superheater coil 60, thereby superheating the steam to a degree depending upon the rate of passage of steam through the coil and the set of the burner controlvalve.

In order to supply the burners, a. suitable fuel or fuel air mixture is conducted from a source of supply through a pipe 84 tovpipes 86 and 88,having valves 90 and 92 respectively therein,` by which the passage of the fuel mixture to the burners may be controlled as will be hereinafter more fully described. The fuel or mixture passing to the main burner 74 passes through the pipe 86, having preferably a single heating loop 94 therein, which is substantially horizontally disposed in lthe chamber 95 between the grate 28and the coil 54 (see Figs. 2 and 3), and then enters the vaporizer 96, positioned above the pilot 98 (to be hereinafter referred to) and passes downwardly through the pipe 100 (see Fig. 1) to the atomizer nozzle 102 (see Figs.V 2

and 3) at which the fuel or mixture is burned.

The combustion gases produced pass through the grate 28 into-contact with the fuel vaporizer coil 94, and from thence into contact' with the superheater coil 54, the water drum 20, the pipes 30 and coils 32 in thecinterior portion of .the boiler'and serve to heat the the 'gases coming fina ly into contact with the coil 44 before passing throughthe'flues 36 of the steam dome 34. 'Afte through the flues 36, the gases pass 4through the opening 38 into the flue 40 and from there through the pi e or conduit 72 from which the gases may e exhausted into the atmoswise disposed of. u

The fuel or fuel air mixture employed for heating the auxiliarysuperheater coil passes through pipe 88 controlled by the valve 92 (seeFig. 1) and passes through a coil or U 104 in the chamber 106, into a vaporizer or enlarged portion 108 and from thence into a pipe 110 connected to the nozzle 112, from .which the fuel mixture issues 'and passes through a connection or passageway 114'i-nto the chamber 115 within the burner casing l80.l

From the chamber 115 the mixture passes greater or less extent,`

r passing through the orifices 82 and is burned in the chamber or passageway 106 in'which the auxiliary superheater coil 60 is located, thus heating the coil. The gases of combustion pass from the chamber or` passageway 106 into the pipe or conduit 7 0, as above described and into a chimney, or are suitably exhausted to the atmosphere.

In the central portion of the grate, or conveniently positioned below the vaporizer 96 isa pilot 98 which is preferably supplied with fuel or a combustible mixture through a separate pipe 116 (see Fig. 1) and which remains continuously. lighted during theoperation of the boiler. {The pilot serves to light the gases from the auxiliary superheater burner 62 when the burner is turned on, through the passageway 99 communicating between the chamber 106 and the space immediately above the pilot. The pilot preferably serves to also' light the fuel mixture issuing from the nozzle 102 below. the grate 28 when the main burner 74 is turned on, whereby when -the steam supply has been cut oif and the main burner has been extinguished, the pilot will ignite the gas or fuel mixture when the steam control valve is again turned on. The pilot' light serves, therefore, as above stated to light the auxiliary superheater burner 62 at the time the boiler is started or put into operation, and when a sudden steam demands.

made on the boiler, the pilot serves also to light the main burner, which is preferably automatically operated, ldepending for its operation upon the Ysteam pressure 'in the boiler. -In order to turn hthe main burner on f and off 1n vaccordance with steam demand, a

valve 9,0 is prefegably employed, which is connected in the steam line, asforexample by means of a pipe 87 which'r-is connected to the pipe 56 so that when the p-ressure in the line ffalls below a predetermined amount the reduction in pressure causes the diaphragm 91 iaphragm 91 to be depressed against the pressure or force of the spring 89 causin the valve head 93 to close, thuscutting o the su ly of fuel mixture to the burner 74.

en'the boiler is in operation 4and when the valve 92 controlling admission of fuel to the auxiliary supf'heater coil burner has been turned on, `then when the throttle or handle 50 is operated to turn on-full steam the valve 90 will be in the open'position so that fuel will pass tothe min-burner, and the boiler will be operated to generate maximum heat. After the pressure in\ the steaml line has been built up to a predetermined amount, the valve 90 will operate as above explained to'cut oif fuel supply to -the main burner wow which will theii9 be extinguished In the preferred form of the device which has been illustrated, the auxiliarysuperheater coil burner is preferably manually operated and the Amain burner is lpreferably automatically operated in the manner above described.

It is to be understood that the mode of controlling the operation or ignition of the main burner 102 may be varied or modified as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The burners instead ofbeing operated independently might be operated inter-dependently, either by manual regulation or through automatic regulation. We may, if

desired, have the control valve 48 opera as 800 F. for example, is reached, the heatsupply to the steam Will be reduced or4 cut of entirely. Thisthermostatic control mayinvolve the use of a suitable' thermostat 120 in the pipe 56 adjacent the point Where it enters. the casing on its way to the coil of the auxiliary superheater, a thermostatic valve 121 inthe fuel line 88 in addition to the'handvalve 92, and a suitable connection 122 between the thermostat 120 and the valve- It is to be understood also, that instead lof passing the combustion gases produced from the auxiliary 'superheater burner directly to the flue 72 to the chimney, it may be passed into the upper portion of the boiler, or through substantially the full length of the boiler so as to pass out through the passageway 38 with the gases from the main burner 102. We prefer,'however, to employ the construction shown in the drawings in which the'heat of the combustion gases is conservedtby preheating the Water passing 'to the coil 12 in a preheater coil 11 which serves/to abstract a portion of the heat of the combustion gases from theburner62;

While the invention has been described in its preferred form, it will be apparent that various changes oi' modifications may beV made in the details of construction Without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim isi v a 1. In asteam boiler of the semiiash type, a main heating iiuid container; means for heating said fluid container; means for automatically operating said heating means to supply the desired amount of heat -Within minimum and maximum predetermined limits; an auxiliary heating fluid container; and l means independent of the heating means for said main heating fluid container for heating the said auxiliary heating fluid containerH. 'I

2. In a steam boiler of the semiiash type, a main heating iiuid container; means for heating the said main fluid container; means for automatically operating the said heating means within predetermined maximum andr minimum steam pressure limits; an auxiliary heating fluid container; means for heating the said auxiliary heating'fluid container, said heating means being operative to maintain'the temperature of steam which'is gener-l ated at substantially constant temperature.

3. In a steam boiler ofthe semi-Hash type, I

a preheating coil; a Water druin; a steam drum for theseparation of steamand water; a series of steam generating coils connecting the said steam drum With`the said water drum; a main superheater'coil; a steam pipe 9' leading from the said steam drum to the said^ l main superheating coil; a control valve in l said pipe for controlling admission of steam to'an engine; an auxiliary superheater coil; -a plpe'connectingsald mamA superheater 'coil with said auxiliary superheater coil; a main burner for heating the said main superheater coil; means for automatically regulating the said main burner dependent upon steam pressure; and a separately regulatable burner for heating the said auxiliarjfsuperh'eater coil.l

4. In a steam boiler of the'semi-flash type, a lmain heating iuid container `a heating means for said fluid container automatically operable with a predetermined drop in steam; pressureiwhen steam is'drawnfrom the boiler; an auxiliary' heating fluid container; heating means for said auxiliary fluid container; means for feeding l,Water toV the main heating fluid container means for passing the steam generated rthrough the said auxiliary fluid container; means for drawing of steam from the said auxiliary Huid container;- and'means for regulating. the heating means `for the auxiliary heating 'flui container to maintain a substantially constant temperature. i 'Y 4 5. In a steam boiler of the rsemiiiash type,

the combination of a water drum, a steamdisengaging drum, a plurality of tubes interconnecting the Water drum and steam drum.;- a superheater; means for passing steam from said steam drum to the superheater; Heating h means for saidtubes, steam drum and superheater; an auxiliary superheater connected to said superhcatei; means for'independently heating said auxiliary superheater; throttle means for controlling the exit o f steam fromthe boiler; and means for automatically controlling the first named heating means in accordance with steam pressure so as to cause sald heating meansto operate after a predetermined drop in pressure 1n the steam erating steam comprising in combination heating coils for heating water and steam arranged in three stages, heating means for said heating coils, means controlling the application of heat to the coils of the last of said heating stages independently of theheating means for the other Stages, and means for controlling the heating means for said other heating stages automatically to render the heating means therefor effective or ineffeeding water to the said preheating coil; a' water drum; a steam drum for the'separation of steam and water; a main superheater coil;

a steam line connecting the said steam drum with the said main superheatin'g coil; a control valvedn the said steam line for controlling supply of steam to an engine; an auxiliary superheater coil; a pipe connecting the said main superheater coil with the said auxiliary superheater coil; a main burner for heating the main superheater coil; a fuel supply pipe connected to said main burner; a valve in said fuel supply pipe for controlling passage of'. fuel therein; means operatively connecting the said valve to a steam coil so as to operate the valveto supply fuel to the`burner when the pressure exceeds a predetermined minimum and to close the valve when a predetermined maximum pressure is exceeded; an

40 independently refulatable burner for heatburner so as to light the last named burner ing the said auxiliary superheating coil; a pilot light for lighting the main burner; a passageway communicating between thepilot light andthe said independently regulatable when it is turned on.

In a. steam boiler, a series of heating coils, heatlng means for the said heating-coils automatically operable to supply `heat in ac- "cordance with the steam demand within predetermined'limits of steam pressure, a steam drum connected with said coils whereby the latter discharge water and steam into t'he drum, a grate in the boiler above the heating I means for the-said coils, a' pilot for lighting the said heating means after it has been turned olf, a superheater coil located in the ,boiler above the said g ate, means for passing steam from the said drum to the said super- .0 heater coil, lan auxiliary superheater coil 1ocated below the said grate, means for connecting the said superheater coil with the said auxiliary superheater coil, an independently controllable burner for heatin the said 0 5 auxiliary superheater coil, means or light- 6. A boiler of the semi-flash type for` gen- 'ing the sa'id burner by means of the said pilot and Vmeans for controllin the passage of stezlun through the said auxlliary superheater co1 A 9. In a steam boiler, a series of heatin coils,fmeans for` passing water to the sai heating-coils, a steamfdrum connected to the said coils constructed and arranged to receive steam therefrom, a series of flue passages in the said drum, a burner to heat the said coils and the said steam drum, the products of combustion passing through the said flue passages, ,a pilot to ignite the fuel passing to the burner when the burner is turned on, a pipe for. passing fuel mixture to the burner a p0rtion of which is heated by the pilot whereby the fuel mixture is suitably vaporized, a valve for controlling admission of fuel to the Said burner regulated by steam pressure and constructed and `arranged to cut olf passage of fuel when the steam pressure exceeds a' redetermined amount, an auxiliary super eater tures.

FRANK J. CURRAN.

MCCLELLAN.

coil connected to said suerheater coil, a 

